Distraction is the divided attention of an individual or group from the chosen object of attention onto the source of distraction. Distraction is caused by: the lack of ability to pay attention; lack of interest in the object of attention; or the great intensity, novelty or attractiveness of ...
69
votes
13answers
2k views
How do I deal with distractions when working on a computer?
I spend most of my working day on a computer and know that when I am "in the zone" I am extremely productive. Getting to "the zone" is very dependent upon the task itself and environmental distraction ...
18
votes
4answers
370 views
What are the first steps to unfreezing a mind paralyzed with stuff bouncing around in it?
This happens to me so often I've lost track.
I have so many things to do. One thing gets to the frontal lobe (top of the heap, whatever) then something else jumps on top of it before I have a chance ...
17
votes
8answers
2k views
My thoughts distract me, how do I keep my focus?
I recently started working full-time as a software developer. [potentially unnecessary background info here]
I've always had a problem focusing. It's very difficult for me to push down my curiosity ...
16
votes
11answers
1k views
How to stop being controlled by others opinions?
I'm 21 years old. And I dream to be a computer programmer, I really do. The problem is (I am going to get a bit technical here) that when i decide to learn a certain programming language that i see my ...
13
votes
6answers
2k views
How to concentrate (read a book or work) when other people are talking instead of listening to their conversation?
I find it very difficult to concentrate on a task, if people are talking in the "neighborhood", e.g.
reading a book in the tram or train or in a doctor's waiting room where other people are ...
12
votes
6answers
2k views
How to prevent/control daydreaming?
Daydreaming is becoming a serious issue for me as I miss valuable information in places such as classes, meetings and presentations. It doesn't depend on any specific element. In fact, it may be ...
11
votes
3answers
831 views
How to keep focused without losing interest?
I am not sure how common is this, but I experience loss of interest pretty often. Unlike many people, my problem is not in starting things but in sustaining the interest.
One day, I decide that I am ...
10
votes
4answers
1k views
My open office is not effective in increasing my productivity, how can I counter this?
We have an open office (no cubical walls) that is intended to increase productivity.
However I find that the increase in distractions, both sound and visual negates this due to the difficulty in ...
10
votes
6answers
314 views
How to get motivation to do important things in the morning?
I have developed a very bad routine of checking my emails, twitter and few other websites after waking up in the morning. Generally, i wake up at 8 AM and start with my important things very late, ...
9
votes
7answers
332 views
How can I learn to say “no” and fight back?
I think that sometimes I accept that what other people say takes a priority over my own time or my personal choices. Also I'm not so "fighter" type. For example, suppose that if I go to rent an ...
9
votes
3answers
1k views
Is there an automatic time tracking application? [closed]
I'm looking for a time tracking tool to monitor and boost my productivity. What I have in mind is a program that works in the background and keeps track of which application is active at any given ...
8
votes
6answers
669 views
I don't want to study. I don't want to think. I want to have fun
I always end up playing a game or something when I'm supposed to study. Hey, having fun is a lot more fun than studying, right? What can I do to make the consequences of my action seem more real? I ...
8
votes
7answers
213 views
Dealing with distractions during wait
The biggest problem for me are distractions that slow down my progress. Too often instead of pushing the main task forward I switch to the other task/check my email/etc. It doesn't mean I'm ...
8
votes
4answers
1k views
How to stop talking LOUDLY to myself?
I have a habit of talking "loudly" to myself. I get an immense satisfaction by doing so.
At the same time, I tend to do this in the market, while driving the scooter, working on a C program. ...
7
votes
4answers
617 views
How to focus on a long class?
I'm a college student who finds it very easy to be distracted. One important sentence missed means I'll have trouble understanding the rest of the class. Sometimes this can be solved by asking someone ...
7
votes
7answers
2k views
How to get a song out of your head
I have a problem, in that my head is sometimes like a broken iPod player. When I'm supposed to concentrate on a job, or simply try and shut my mind down to go to sleep, a song will pop into my head. ...
7
votes
4answers
177 views
Is there an adopted strategy for dealing with cell phones ringing in the office?
I work in office with a kind of a cubicle farm arrangement where sound propagates no-problem. When a cell phone not in silent mode rings it can be heard in at least 10-meters range and therefore ...
6
votes
1answer
261 views
Binaural beats for productivity
A collegue of mine is trying binaural beats for productivity.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binaural_beats
I don't know what it is yet, but apparently it's special sounds that can have a relaxing ...
6
votes
2answers
184 views
How to do intellectual work pressed by deadline under extremely bad emotional conditions
Which strategies can help you get your intellectual work done, under these conditions:
Work of an intellectual nature (e.g. PhD thesis, scientific paper, etc)
Strict deadline because of life ...
5
votes
4answers
270 views
Does it make sense to continuously listen to some sounds to avoid mind wanderings?
Are there studies or evidence that suggest that continuously listening to sounds helps prevent the mind from wandering or increase focus and productivity during activities such as studying or ...
5
votes
3answers
142 views
Facts only news sources
I have found myself get emotionally worked up on news reporting and would highly prefer to avoid news altogether as this heavily impacts my ability to work productively. For work reasons however there ...
4
votes
3answers
289 views
How to focus on the current task and avoid any distractions?
I'm often finding myself getting distracted very easily:
I walking to another room to do something (e. g. fetch something, write down something or do a task), on the way I'm seeing something that ...
4
votes
3answers
227 views
Time management strategies for computer science students
Over the past few months, I've been contributing to both Wikipedia and Stack Overflow, and working on open source software projects. However, I've found that my obsession with software development has ...
3
votes
5answers
204 views
Dealing with distractions from GMail
GMail is my office mail. A lot of my work has pieces where I need some information from email or replying to email. I go into gmail to search for something or send a reply to an email and then end up ...
3
votes
2answers
132 views
How to withstand a highly distractive environment, or else, 'Should I Stay or Should I Go'
The headline here is: I live in a frat house with 10 other people.
They are noisy, frisky people, and living with them greatly improved my drinking social skills, and I loved it at first, but I'm ...
2
votes
7answers
1k views
How to overcome confusion?
Now-a-days I get confused at small things. When It comes to making choices/taking decisions, I get confused and unable to make my own choices even if the choices are not a big deal. When I have to ...
2
votes
1answer
146 views
Alternative methods to get focused & get things done
I am having the hardest time getting focused some days and I like what I do but just liking is not enough to keep the steam going.
Sometimes the usual methods work but some days nothing seems to help ...
1
vote
2answers
206 views
How to avoid my Laziness [closed]
I'm working in a company as a software trainee. My question is how to avoid my laziness.
I work in the shift 9am to 6pm
My problems are
Sleeping late usually at 4am
Waking up late usually at 8:30 ...
1
vote
3answers
204 views
Stop avoiding bad news
I have a problem that hinders me in several places in life where, when I believe that bad news is imminent, I take up sometimes outrageous levels of inconvenience and anti-productive behavior to avoid ...
1
vote
0answers
200 views
Team work and productivity: Noisy office vs quite room [closed]
I'm having a meeting in two hours and need lots of references and points. Basically, my university has a module for software development with a real client.
Some of my team members work in the ...
0
votes
3answers
72 views
What things can I do to be successful in a job training program?
I have recently been confirmed a position of a Management Trainee Officer in a banking corporation. I will be attending in the training program for 2 years. Based on the performance of the program, my ...
0
votes
1answer
135 views
Getting rid of an “I'll do it later” habit [closed]
I am in the IT industry working with software all day long from logic to code. Sometimes, very seemingly small things take a long time while larger tasks are solved in jiffy.
I have a habit of ...
0
votes
0answers
28 views
How to focus on reading while the TV is on [duplicate]
My girlfriend loves watching TV but I like to read. I have a lot of trouble focusing between the noise and visual of the TV. I still want to spend that time relaxing with her because we're lucky to ...
0
votes
3answers
195 views
I am very distracted by noise, are there good headphones that can help with this? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Best headphones/earplugs to drown out loud nearby conversations
I am very distracted by noise, are there good headphones that can help me?
I wasn't sure if this ...
